grandjean



FRANKING MACHINE Filed March 6. 1925 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 J a A r 4 g 53 20 V 55. X ii .2

iii E Q r/ /f //1 June 24, 1930.

Filed March 26, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 24, 1930.. GRANDJEAN FRANKING MACHINE Filed March 26, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Q crank handle 32.

Patented June 24, 1930 GABRIEL GRAN'JDUEAN, OF PARIS, FRANCE .FRANKING MACHINE Application filed March 26, 1925, Serial No. 18,510, and in France April 10, 1924.

This invention relates to a franking machine, Characterized I (1) Bythe fact that it can affix to an envel'ope' either one i rarrliing vignette, or succ'essivelyseveral vignettes oi the same value,

or of different values. I

By the presence of a special counter whichautomatically adds up the sum of the values of all these'identical :or dilierent img pressions'.

(3) By the presence of a device ifor preventing fraud the interposition of carbon paper.

Figure 1 is an elevation of the machine is with six values, Figure 2 a section on anenlarged scaleoi the said machine on line -22 of Figure 1. Figures 8 and 4 show in detail the arrangement of the printing'system as well as the device Which prevents fraud in '20 the case of a machine with a single value. Fig.1?) shows two diiierent impressions made by the stamp.

Description ,0) the general working of the r 7 machine @n a spindle '1 carrying the stamps, are keyed two cylinder sectors 2 and 3, 011 the outer surface of which are the following engraving-s'z' On the sector 52, indications of '39 origin and date,advertisements, etc, and on the sector 3 a 'franking vignette.

A spindle -20 carrying agearwheel '19 meshing with a gear Wheel 12 keyed to thesp'indle 1, is provided out-side vtherinachine 'Wlllll .a

yBy-tuiiningithe ssame handle, the sectors 2 and '3 are rotated. Like in-the printing machines called rotary presses, the engraved portion ofithe-surface of these sectors startin-g flirom their position of rest, first meets turniis in tcontact with the roller-fountain 8 then a rubber pressure. roller 9 mounted on springs.

an inking-roller Z8. Figure ,2) whichyin its wTh plane of -txiiitact of the surface oi the sectors 2 and 3and of the roller'9 is inclined at an angle of about 45. To the said plane corresponds 7 an inclined slot 7 or chute 1O (Figur'e'sfZ andS') 'int'o which the packet to be iranked'is 'allowedto drop by gravity.

In the position of rest, two or more stops 10 step the packet at its lower 'edge'in such a manner that the vignette should ?be printed in'a goodplace-on the packet.

To that end, a little before the engraved portion of the sectorsEZ and 3 comes in conin detail in Figures 3 and 4.

10 represents the guide into which the envelope to be stamped is introduced, the guide in question is limited by the edges 1010. The envelope is stoppedby a stop 100 rotatable about a pin A which carries a slide block B with which engages a roller 0 .securedto a bell crank lever D rotatable about a pin E.

'The bottom of the envelope rests against a supporting roller -'9 loose 011 a spindle 11 This spindle rotates in a'bearing24 (see Figure 10) which can slide in aguide'25, theaxis of which is at right angles, to that of the guide 10 An antagonistic spring26 tends to 1 p -ing the bearing 24, F1g. 4,

ion.

into its end posi- At the opposite side -ofithe guide or chute relatively tot-he roller 9, is mounted a toothed wheel 12 rotatable about the axle 1 carrying the'block 3inthe form oil a portion olf'a cylinder, which prints on the envelope the franking vignette.

This stamp passes through an openingpr'ovidedin the wall 10of the guide, the size of the said opening being 1L1Sll sufficient for the passageo'f the stamp.

The pin E is secured 'to a slide block 27 travel of the finger 2S.

Finallyonlthe spindle 20" is keyed a handle It will be then absolutely impossible %to :rub out these impressions, or to cut out the sheets of carbon paper in such a manner that they should leave free-the outlines of the impressi'on.

A device enabling vignettes of different values to be printed This device consists (Figures 1 and 2) of a cylinder 3 comprising a "fixed portion '33 and'two cheeks 34and 35. The part 33 has a cylindrical recess which contains a hexagonal prism 36 with curved faces, each of which is provided with a differentengraving, the curvature of the faces being the same *asthat of the cylinders 2 and 3.

The hexagonal prism 36 can pivot between the two cheeks 34 :and'35; it is provided for the purpose with a toothed wheel 37 which can be driven by means of the :following parts;

On a spindle 38 parallel to the spindles l and 20, is keyed a toothed wheel 39 identical with the wheell37. Theendof thespindle 38 which projects out-of the machine, terminates in aheXagon'iO, each face of which bears the indioation o'f one franking value. A helical sprin'g:4=1 holds the hexagon in a hexagonal recess of the frame, and in that position the wheel=39 does *not'engage with the wheel 37.

Themechanismbeing in its position-of rest,

it is suflicient *to pull the button-hexagon 4O inorderltoipull it out of its recess where it was locked, andto bring into engagement the twoxgear wheels 3-9 and 37.

Av-suitable turning of :the spindle 38 brings the desired vignette Eto the printing cylindriical .face.

' During these movements, various locking bolts will work which .will be described further on, and ensure security of the -oper-- ation.- p

.fI-n {the case ofxthe machine with multiple values, thelsecurity device preventing impressionby carbons, has been built as follows Fi;gures 1 and 2)v :"t he two'pi-ns 1-6-of one and the'same vignette are COHIIBC CGdtO- gether vin the form of a shackle 68 introduced into its recess through the interior of the engraved block which is hollow. An

eccentric inner cylinder 69 pushes all these shackles towards the periphery, a suitable device such as a ring or springs keeps the shackles in contactwith the eccentric. The eccentricity is such that .all the ends of the pins are set back .or withdrawn except for that of only one shackle.

On the end of the eccentric cylinder is keyed a wheel 70 which meshes with a similar wheel 71 secured to the frame and concentric with the spindle 1.

During the rotation of the stamp-carrying spindle, the wheel 70 rotates about 71 and also makes one revolution about its axis; the eccentric cylinder to which it is secured, therefore makes all the-pins of the engraved surface project successively. To obtain the desired result, it will be sulficien't to key the wheels 70 and 71 in such .a manner that on the vignette utilized, the pins should be projected at the passage over the rubber roller 9.

Changing the vignette As regards the changing of vignette, it can only be-doneby meansof the button 40 which can beturned when the hexagon has been withdrawn from its recess This operation can be effected only in "the position of rest owing to the-following mechanism. In that position of rest, a lever 46 in engagement with a grooved disc 44-7 on the end of .the spindle '38, can engage with a recess 48 of the disc-49 -keyedto the shaft 20. The operation of this spindle is thus rendered impossible during the changing of a vignette, and conversely.

The button 40 having thus been brought to the left hand end of its travel, and :the whole mechanism locked, the two pinions 37 and 39 Swill be 'in engagement. Qn the other hand, a locking bolt 50 which looked the toothed wheel 37re1ati'vely to the printing sector 33 by engaging with a. recess of the wheel '37, is brought to the position of rest by operating the pinion '39 (see Figure 1) the block of the vignettes is therefore ready to obey the impulse that will be given to it by the outer button. w

The turning of the button 40' necessarily produces, at "the same time as the change of stamp, a longitudinal movement .of the nut 43 on the screw42,proportional to the pitch of the screw and-to the fraction of revolution made; these factors are calculated so thatthe loose gear 44: shall engage with the toothed wheelcorresponding-to. the stamp selected, the value of whichtappears alone in the window, 51. v

It will be seen there-fore that both before and afterthe vignette changingoperation, the engraved block is never left to itself. The dimensions of the'pa-rts and their adjustment are such that the wheel 37 is necessarily either locked by 50 or in engagemen with the pinion 39.

Various devices First of all, the rotation of the crank handle 32' must be made non-reversible so as to prevent the counter from registering in the ne ativesense; V

0 that end, a wheel53 is provided with a ratchet device. Moreover, a pawl54 doubles this security by engaging with a recess 48 of a disc 49 secured-to the spindle 20, at the moment when only half of the vignette has been printed. k

1. A frankinlgmachine com rising a stamping roller, a stamp on sai roller, a guide-r0 ler for said stamp, means for guidmg envelopes between said stamipingroller and said guide roller and means carried bysaid first mentioned roller for pveventing true carbon impressions from being made from said stamp,

2. A franking machine com rising at stampin roller, a'stamp on sai roller, a

ide r0 ler for said stamp, means for guiding'envelopes between said stamping roller and said guide roller and means including a radially operated pin associated with said first mentioned roller'for preventing true carbon impressions from being made from said stamp.

' stampin liiiiiging sai mounted in eachloflsaid'staifips, ai gu rol er for said "stamping roller,"meatis for guiding envelopes between said guise 'i'bller 3. A trunking machine com rising a roller, a stamp on sai r0ller,'a ide ro ler for said stamp, means for guidmg envelopes between said stamping roller and said guide roller and means for altering a carbon impression made from; said stamp without altering'the original impressien made therefrom.- a i "4. In a franking machine of'the de scribed astamping roller, aplurality of stamps carried by said roller, means for bringing said stain s successively into'o erative positioma radially disposed pin sli ably mounted in each of said stamps, a guide roller foe said stamping, roller, means for guiding envelopes betweensaid guide roller, and said stamping roller and means for cans ing eachv of said tomove: outwardly when itsrespective stamp is in contact with said ide roller.

mi r gdby i lrfq er m m o f stumpsfsuccessively" into operative position, a radially disposed pin "sligand said stamping roller and an hce'nti'ic for causing each; of 'said pins to'{ more outwardly when itsrespective stamp iain conem with said guide rollen .i .6. In afranking machine of thetype d0".

a mh iegma iieBt the as a scrib p," empinsi ie m'e, mane scribed, a stamping roller, a hexagonal prism mounted in said stampin roller, a plurality of vignettes carried by t 9 surfaces of said prism, means for bringing said vignettes successively into operative position, a centrally disposed recess in said prism, a plurality of normally retracted plungers in said rism having their ends rejecting into said recess, a ide roller or said stamping roller, means or guiding envelopes between said guide roller and said stampin roller and means for causing each of sai lungers to move outwardly when its respective vignette is in contact with said guide roller.

7. In a franking machine of the type described, a manually '0 rated spin le, a stampingrolier mounts on said spindle, a plurali f'o'f stamps carried by said roller. means or bringing said stami1successiveIy into 7 mtive pos tion, a n 1y disposed pin shdablyipiounted'in eachoisaid stamps, a guide r0 or for said stamping roller, means for guiding enveiopes between said guide roller and said stamping roller, an eccentric associated with said pins and means driven by said =s indie-for causing the pin whose stamp has n moved to operative position'to move outwardly when said stamp is incontact with said guide roller. 8. n a ranking machine of the type scribed which comprises a frame, a mam sipindle mounted in said frame, a second spine a printing cylinder mounted on said second spindle, a rotatably mounted prism havingdrivenby said first mentioned spindle,

curved'surfaces carried bysaid cylinder, a

pluralty oivignettes of difl'erent values on i said curved Sui-n st, a was 1 spindle u mounted in said frame, means for operative 1y connecthig'said third spindle and said printing cyl said-vignettes into operative osition, a men uallv: controlled knobmoimted on said third spiiidle esteciorot said frame and l'oeking means controlled by said connecting means for holding said prism in 1a" fixed position with respect-t0 saidprintin cylinder'when-- said vimttes are not being 9. In a ranking machine of the type do scribed "which comprises I aframe, a mom a *printingw ylinder mounted said second spindle', a rotatably Mediu -i curved snrfaces'earried bwshid uasa s plurality of vignettes of difierent values *oifif said Sui-races, a third spindle mesa said frame, for siidthi'rd' spindle normally to an I inoperative position, a ion carried} by saidth'ifd cpmdle a second inion-'carried by said prismflocfing means V nomally holding said second-pinion in a j cylin and means on said mentioned" fixedaposition with respectto said printing I05 der for successively bringing pinion for releasing said locking means when said first and second pinions are in mesh.

10. A franking machine as set forth in claim 8, in which means are associated with said main spindle for preventing operation thereof when said third spindle is moved to an operative position.

11. A franking machine as set forth in claim 8 in which said main spindle is provided with a locking disc, a. lever associated with said locking disc and means on said third spindle for releasing said locking lever when said third spindle is moved to an inoperative position.

12. In a franking machine of the type described having, a printing roller, a substantially annular stamp drum mounted in said roller and a guide roller for said stamping roller, the combination of a plurality of radially disposed U-shaped members slidably mounted in said stamp drum, an eccentric mounted in said stamp drum, flexible means common to said U-shaped members for maintaining said U-shaped members in engagement with said eccentric and means for producing rotation of said eccentric with respect to said stamp drum when said stamp drum is rotated for the purpose described.

13. In a franking machine of the type described having, a printing roller, a substantially annular stamp drum mounted in said rollerand a guide roller for said stamping roller, the combination of a plurality of radially disposed U-shaped members slidably mounted in said stamp drum, an eccentric mounted in said stamp drum, flexible means common to said U-shapedmembers for maintaining said U-shaped members in engagement'with said eccentric, a pinion carried by said eccentric and a stationary pinion coaxially disposed with respect to said printing drum meshing with said first mentioned pinion for the purpose disclosed.

14. In a franking machine of the type described having, a printing roller, a substantially annular stamp drum mounted in said roller and a guide roller for said stamping roller, the combination of a plurality of radially disposed U-shaped members slidably mounted in said stamp drum, an eccentric -mounted in said stamp drum, an endless coiled spring disposed within and surrounding said U-shaped members for maintaining said U-shaped members in engagement with said eccentric and means for producing rotation of said eccentric with respect to said stamp drum when said stamp drum is rotated for the purpose described.

15. In a franking machine of the type described having, a printing roller, a substantially annular stamp drum mounted in said roller and a guide roller for said stamping roller, the combination of a plurality of radially disposed U-shaped members slidably mounted in said stamp drum, an eccentric GABRIEL GRANDJEAN. 

